These are the thoughts and observations of me — a woman of a certain age. (Oh, my, God, I'm 60!) I'm single. I'm successful enough (independent, self supporting). I live in the burbs and work in the city (Chicago, the best city in the world). I'm an aunt, a friend and a colleague. I feel that voices like mine are rather underrepresented online or in print. So here I am. If my musings resonate with you, please visit my blog again sometime.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Sunday Stealing

1. Are you a young heart or an old soul? The older I get, the younger I feel. I'm not kidding -- my soul felt far heavier when I was 16 than it does today.

2. What makes someone a best friend? Accepting you as you are, and a willingness to invest the time required.

3. What Christmas present do you remember the most? Blaze, brought to me by Santa the Christmas after I'd just turned four.
First I saw the TV commercials, then I saw him in the Sears Christmas
Catalog, then I met him in the toy department of the Sears store, and I
knew we destined to be together. Blaze is all I asked Santa for that
year. I will always remember coming down the hall and seeing him beside
the Christmas Tree.

4. Tell me a movie/song/TV show/playbook that has changed your life. Saving Graces by Elizabeth Edwards. The subtitle is, "finding solace
and strength from friends and strangers." She talks about how the
kindnesses of those around her have sustained her through political
losses, breast cancer and most wrenchingly, the death of her teenage
son, Wade. Until I read this book, my response when friends offered help was always, "No, that's OK." Now I understand that we are meant to help one another, that it should and must go both ways.

5. Name one physical feature that you like about yourself and one that you dislike. I like my green eyes. I don't like my fat ass.

6. Can money buy happiness? Happiness? No. Security? Certainly.

7. What’s more important in a relationship: physical attraction or emotional connection? Yes. (I'm greedy -- I want both!)

8. Is there anyone close to you that you know you can’t trust? My older sister is a beast. She's made every aspect of dealing with our mother's passing more difficult. I cannot wait until I no longer have to deal with her.

9. Where was your favorite place to go when you were a little kid? The movies. The first movie I saw at the theater was Mary Poppins, and I still remember that moment when the big red curtains opened and I saw the rooftops of London. The movies remain my favorite place to go.

10. Have you spent a night in the hospital? I had surgery two years ago.

11. Do you enjoy being only with 1-2 friends or with a large group of people? 1-2

12. Have you ever been bullied? Remember the sister I mentioned in #8? She's been trying to bully me since my birth.

13. If your partner wanted to wait until marriage until having sex, would you stay in that relationship? Wow. Never been in that position. I think I'd prefer to drive the car around the block before I buy it.

14. Do you believe in God? Yes

15. Out of all the social networks in the world why use a blog? I like the longer form of communication.

16. What is your quirkiest habit? I happen to know that the toilet paper is supposed to come OVER the roll, not under. I have been known to correct the situation wherever I find it.

17. What is normal? Are you normal? As my best friend likes to say, "I don't even know what 'normal' looks like."

18. Someone close to you is dying! You have the choice to let
this person live for 10 more years but if you do you cause the death of
10 strangers. I don't see a question here. Did I miss something when I cut and pasted?

19. What is one thing you could never forgive? I have a hard time when someone intentionally hurts me.

20. When you’re alone in your own home, do you talk out loud to yourself? Yes

21. Who is your favorite super hero? Batman. And that would be Adam West as Batman. I accept
no substitutes.

22. Could you be in a long distance relationship? I was. We talked every day and saw each other every month. It suited me quite nicely.

23. Do you know what makes you happy? In the moment, yes.

24. Who was your first crush? Our next door neighbor's son. He was in his 20s, I was in kindergarten. I used to visit with him when he'd come over to wash his car in his parents' driveway and he promised to marry me. I was really pissed when I learned he not only wasn't really waiting for me, he was already engaged. AND MY PARENTS MADE ME GO WITH THEM TO THE WEDDING! Her name was Sandy and she wore so much hairspray I could smell it! Unfortunately, he had an undiagnosed heart problem and died before he was 30.

25. Where is your favorite place to go out and eat? My new favorite is Pizano's. Love their deep dish pizza.

26. Are you an early bird or night owl? Night owl.

27. Give me an unpopular opinion you have. We should reinstate the draft. I think parents would view our adventures in foreign lands differently if their children would have to do the fighting.

28. Do you believe in giving kids medals and trophies for participation? I'm sorry, but I don't really care.

29. What song best describes your life right now? "Don't Rain on My Parade"30. How do you express your creativity? I'm a writer by trade.

Blaze looks cool! I had a rocking horse when I was little and I loved it, but I don't think it had a name, and it didn't make noise. It just rocked. Your sister sounds like a brat. Too bad you can't divorce siblings!